Saturday, June 04, 2005

The Corporation of Cousins

We went to primary school together. He was a mini Bill Gates according to Utusan Malaysia a long long time ago. We went to prep school together and became tight tight friends. Heck, if I wasn't married by the age 30, he was my back up. Now, who is the lucky one to get off the hook eh?

He is a dear dear second cousin of mine, and in my books he is still the genius I knew at Darjah Satu. Plus I absolutely adore his mom. Ladies and gentlemen, police and firemen, je presente the boardroom bouncer

Friday, June 03, 2005

Ayah Dalam Pelukan

Seingatku
suatu ketika dahulu
bila bibir dan tangan bercium kaku
rangkulan perut dada tak bertemu
degupan cemas bila dihadapanmu
berpergian aku menuntut ilmu
kukenang jua di kala sayu
bila pulang masih jua kaku
bila merajuk aku bersendirian syahdu

Kini merantau berlainan tuan

hatiku tak lagi hiruk berantakan
mengapa harus gerun dalam kenangan
walhal di jiwa kesayangan
sesekali berjumpa
degupan makin perlahan
malah hangat rindu-rinduan
makin kasih dalam pelukan
malah perkataan makin ringan

membutirkan sayang penuh perasaan

aku punya seorang saja ayah bukan?




I do not know from which planet the men in my family came but they were not big on hugs at one time. In fact, the men and the women rarely spoke to each other, conversations between the young and their brothers or fathers are countable with the fingers on one hand. These alphamale archetypes were so dignified and glorified that they only needed to open their eyes and the food is on the table, get up when they are done, wash their hands and read the papers. Hot tea and crackers will follow suit. The UN Ambassador would be the maternal womenfolk. God save your soul if you mother refuses to speak on your behalf.
Given that the men were descendants of Bugis seafaring princes,or so they say, I still think they are more lanun blood in them than blue ones, I maintain that such aloofness and restrained public display of affection such a waste of time, when being Malay, one cannot help but be jiwang karat to a degree. How can one expect to be all sappy and mushy with you when you are no longer pedang-yielding(okay,make that rotan) if you insist on being the constipated Mat Control Poyo in your younger days. I am reckless to generalize the common trait of the Astro-polynesian male but this is so apparent where my dad came from.
I attribute to this I'm-too-sexy -to-be-affectionate vein to senibina rumah melaka, Melaka architecture, it's form and function philosophize the lifestyle of the Melaka people. Oh, maybe not, because I don't know where I chugged my Senibina Rumah-Rumah Melayu book, I fear misrepresentations. Simplistically though, the men had their own quarters in the serambi or balcony (where it is breeziest, the girls are doomed to the ceruk of the kitchen) and almost always did not enter the rumah ibu or main house unless absolutely necessary. The girls could have a peek at them at play through a skodeng hole up in the attic. The men and women almost always did not mingle unless with their own spouses, albeit very silently of course, nobody knew how procreation was possible when people slept like sardines on kekabu mattresses if not on rickety wooden planks. The patriarch may choose to sit wherever he wishes.The house is usually quiet in his presence. A mere dehem or clearing of his throat would send the young ones scampering and the older ones hiding in their own corners.
This habit is passed on from one generation to the next that it is quite difficult to connect with the fathers and brothers in our family. Until baby girls with tocang feminis were born as a result of intermarriages with the Minangs and little could be done to stop their liberation movement. The lanuns remained quiet and detached yet the invisible rule that they are to be served like kings according to the Hukum Kanun, lives on till this very day. Maybe that's because the ladies let them get away with it, I am sure.
As time went by, kids were sent to boarding schools and a lot of the pepatah-petitih were only rekindled in language and history classes. Mingling with different sets of people from myriads of backgrounds, we were introduced to how other people lived. I for one, learned a lot from my Utara friends who were seriously chummies with their fathers and were so much in touch with what is going on at their respective homes. I craved for that bond with my own yet I could not get over the gerun and segan. I did not have their passion for home as all I remembered back then was an empty house and a very garang no-nonsense nanny.
I slowly encouraged my siblings to start kissing our parents hands when we salam. We never knew how it was supposed to be done. That progressed to light pecks on the cheeks. These days we hug the breath out of each other. We are still too sexy to say "I love you" to our parents up front, we say it in writing and over the phone. Mak does a kakteh with a simple "ditto". Hell will go subzero degrees the day ayah tells us he loves us. But we do know he really does. Really.
Happy Birthday Ayah. I love you.
Very much.
Honest.
What kind of dad have you?

Thursday, June 02, 2005


Cik Zaiton Posted by Hello

Olives Galore

My MIL loves black olives.
On days that I feel like manja-ing her I'll make her something olive-y.Her favourites include my olive rice, olive bread and tabouleh. I score big points when I get it right.
So here are the recipes especially for Aunty N, no need to ngendeng, I give you FOC, and for Ayu,to eat with your beef sauce. The tabouleh recipe is gratis for the rest of you.
EZPZ Olive Rice
3 cups rice
2 cups water
1.5 cups chicken stock
1 cup chopped black olives
A few knobs unsalted butter
Salt to taste
Raisins
Fragrant Garlic
Bell Peppers
Aubergines
Cilantro for garnishing
Mix and cook rice, water, stock and olives as you would normally.
Meanwhile cut the veges into bite sizes.
Roast them in a bit of olive oil until nicely smokey and caramelised.
Once the rice is cooked, stir a few knobs of butter, raisins and season with salt.
Garnish with roasted veges and cilantro.
Perfect accompanied with any type of roasts, especially Ayam Golek. Or Kak Teh's mustard and honey leg of lamb.Yumm.
Carbo-Fix Olive Bread
6 cups bread flour
4 teaspoons active dry yeast
4 tablespoons white sugar
2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped black olives
6 tablespoons olive oil
2.5 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 tablespoon cornmeal

In a large bowl, mix together flour, yeast, sugar, salt, black olives, olive oil, and water.
Turn out dough onto a floured board.
Knead until smooth and elastic, 5 to 10 minutes.
Set aside, and let rise about 45 minutes, until it doubles in size.
Punch down.
Knead well again, for about 5 to 10 minutes.
Let rise for about 30 minutes, until it doubles in size.
Cut the dough into two on kneading board.
Place upside down in 2 separate bowls lined with a lint-free, well floured towel.
Let rise until double in size.
While the bread is rising for the third time, put a pan of water in the bottom of the oven. Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
Gently turn loaves out onto a sheet pan that has been lightly oiled and dusted with cornmeal.
Bake loaves at 500 degrees F (260 degrees C) for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Bake for 30 more minutes, or until done.
This recipe makes 2 loaves. This recipe is also good if you've had a bad day, all that kneading and punching can be therapeutic. Serve with wild mushroom soup or minestrone.
Buono. Bellisimo
Tabouleh Boleh

Microwave a packet of couscous/bhulgur wheat for 10 minutes in a few agak-agak cups of water. Substitute with small sized semolina pasta if you don't have couscous.

Chop some mint, parsley,cilantro, tomatoes and olives.
You can add tuna and black beans etc if you like.

Dressing:

A few shakes of allspice
One shake of ground cinnamon
Lemon juice
Chopped onions
Olive oil

Mix everything, season with salt and pepper and chill before serving. Serve with romaine or butterhead lettuce. To eat it, wrap the tabouleh in a lettuce leaf as you would a sireh and chomp. Whoopah!

One has to acquire the taste for olives. Some people get terrible gaseous indigestion that sometimes mimick a minor heart attack. So try it a little at a time before taking one too many.

I did not make these dishes today, but I am day dreaming that I am, so that's why I blogged the recipes. My flu is getting better, I think it has graduated to something else, my throat is on fire, I can't swallow.

Apa makan ni hari? There's still some of that kari from last night. So I campak-campak some stuff and made sambal fishcake with ikan bilis, and green sprouts with soft tofu cooked in beef broth. Che Anwar balik lunch and tambah 3 kali. Scoooooore!!!!

So how's your day at work today?




Wednesday, June 01, 2005

Sniffle Carnival

All that looking forward to a more lively and energized 30th year of my life was shortlived as the flu bugs came swarming the whole household as if envious of my coming of age. I don't want to start describing in detail how I am feeling or I'll switch back to my spasticolon-ic whining. Kak Teh has probably had enough of graphic descriptions of my migraine, and okay, Fida, I will go to the doctor some time. I am so loved here, my mom would be grateful.
The strong one in the family is Aishah who still manages to make floor art with waffles, cream and strawberry compote even if she looks as if she could use a lot of rest. She has been having difficult nights lately, must be all that snot and sore throat. She is unstoppable nevertheless. I thought I would not see my mop today but mango juice, squashed peas and fish don't make tasteful deco on my tiles. Sheesh.
Anwar is also feeling a wee bit rundown as well, with the onset of flu.He's my migraine-kindred spirit among other things, whenever I get an attack, chances are he'll get hemicraniac himself.He could have been huddled here with me but he is needed at work. One of the tunnels got flooded last night. I get hyper-worried when he has to go down 30m underground in a basket. In a basket mobilized by a crane. We'd think it's all futuristic in the construction business eh? Please Allah, protect him from harm.
I had prepared some chicken for a satay dinner today but could not get down to making the peanut sauce because my lengkuas had fungicized on me. And with this headache and the River Nile running down my nostrils, those skewers might end up a Kassim Selamat stunt, so back in the freezer the chicken went. Instead I made Tenggiri curry. That's all I could manage while feeling like I've been hit by a truck.
Anwar loves my fish curry but very rarely eat the fish. When served curries, he likes to have 'em with fish cake sambal and there should be papads to go with his rice. I did not prepare a vege dish either. Looks like he has to take care of dinner himself tonight.
*sniff sniff*

Tuesday, May 31, 2005


YA RAHMAN YA RAHIM Posted by Hello

Silent Prayers

Please join me in seeking Allah's grace and mercy on the people who have had to endure life's greatest tests, one after the other. Especially those who have succumbed to serious illnesses, or have members of the family who are very sick, faced with unexpected tragedy and suddenly feeling lost and very very sad. I am sure if you look around you, there are a lot of people who could use some hugs and would appreciate you remembering them in your prayers.

Nuh called out to Us and what an excellent Responder We are! (Qur'an, 37:75)


Click here if you need tips on what you should do if someone in your family/community has cancer. Ex-HRH Nefertiti, you do know that Allah is near. Keep that thought with you. Always.


If My servants ask you about Me, I am near. I answer the call of the caller when he calls on Me. They should therefore respond to Me and believe in Me so that hopefully they will be rightly guided. (Qur'an, 2:186)


Sensuous Soon Kueh Posted by Hello

Gourmandizing Gluttony

I was reading this and it describes exactly how I devoured my first Soon Kueh, steamed vegetable dumplings. In my books those succulent mouthfuls of glistening work of art that simply bursts into little explosions of exotic flavours with just one bite, deserve a place par excellence with Godiva Caraques and raw oysters(eaten with a dash of tabasco and lemon juice of course).
I can now conclude that for me chocolates, dim sum, chilli and oysters are catalysts for magic to happen in my universe. Sometimes a whiff of Jeypine would do the trick too *wink*

For some people Pak Ali Ginseng, caviar, celery, clove, grapes, fennel, almonds, avocados, bananas, walnuts, ginger, nutmeg, chickpeas, horseradish(wasabe even), saffron, vanilla, and asparagus work to rouse or douse certain nerves.

What about you? What kind of food would make you erogenous zones crave for some love. What would send Barry White singing in the background? Okay, sorry if you don't know who he is. I don't know what you people listen to to get it on these days. I am quite old remember?
*Kanak-kanak tidak digalakkan menjawab soalan-soalan yang tersebut di atas

Sunday, May 29, 2005

Thirty Years Ago Today

At 21, fresh out of UPM, an unbelievably intelligent and beautiful girl won a scholarship to study in the US. Back in the early 70s, that was a major accomplishment for somebody from where she came from. Even if she did come from a serene old kampung in Melaka, she is far from the allusions of a demurely dopey lass, thanks to her headmistress mother and tuan guru father's upbringing. It is no wonder she got her way by insisting that she gained her path to Glasgow, Scotland where the love of her life was waiting. With a MARA loan, she got a place at Strathclyde much to the dismay or contentment, I forget, of her parents and the entire kampung. She was to leave for the UK so soon that it called for drastic measures.
To soothe parental insomnia and prevent mini cardiac arrests, a nikah gantung was quickly organized. This means the lovebirds were married in a simple solemnization ceremony without the whole shebang of a reception. By kampung regulations, the marriage was not supposed to consummated until after the kenduri. So off to the land of shortbreads, haggis and tartan the newlyweds went.
Naturally,she had little care for pills and lack of aptitude for discipline(she's from the flower power generation), she forgot that certain pills are supposed to be taken everyday, failing to do so will result in either disasters or potential change in the direction of their lives. That fateful day, when she discovered that she was indeed heading towards the family way, she had mixed feelings. Not only the love of her life lacked the celebratory mood; very much unlike those she had seen on films, she was faced with the inevitable challenges of pregnancy and a hectic student life, thousands of miles away from her mother.
Any astronomical dreams of a magical fairy tale wedding was crushed, as were the hearts of the people back home in Melaka. All preparations had to be halted and invitations retracted. Then began the topsy turvy rollercoaster ride of motherhood for this young girl who did not know any better back then, that her first born was going to be a great big headache from the moment of her conception until God knows when.
As easy as being pregnant while doing a degree in horticulture can get, and dealing with the realities of wifely duties, she gave birth to a very bulat and pinkish baby on a Thursday, twenty ninth day of May, 1975.
Today, the baby is still somewhat bulat, still very much alive, thanks to the bullheadedness of my mother that her decisions she had made in my upbringing made me who I am today. The final weeks of my twenties were spent introspecting and I found that I have pretty much everything I needed to be happy.
I have love, family and friends. One of whom has dedicated me a sweet entry on her blog. I am reduced to tears for her generosity and how highly she thinks of me when in truth she and her awang are the ones I idolize. Thank you Kak Teh for this unique gift. Thank you also for redirecting traffic to my new blog. Very good gimmick. I am sure many of your fans are left boiling with envy. Nyeh nyeh nyeh. I didn't get my Belgian Chocolate Haagen Daz because my people organized a durian party at the inlaws'.
Apart from the gifts I received from my family,which include a whole new wardrobe( I hypnotized Anwar into a trance and he brought me to Paragon, Kakteh), some blink blink and new silver for my tea parties, KakTeh's tribute is by far the best in the tear jerking category.
I am indeed very lucky.
The beginning of my 30s, which marks my acceptance of adulthood, starts off on a very happy note. I am very grateful to my family, friends and notably KakTeh for guiding me through my hiccups, trips and bumps, walau tak pernah bersua, Kakteh bak bondaku jua. In the short time that we have known each other, it really feels like we share a special bond. I hope we will be this tight for many years to come.
Thank you one and all for your prayers and well wishes. Some of you I have not even met personally, yet you treat me like family. I shall remember you in my du'a.Insya Allah
Somebody told me horror stories about the days before reaching 30, that everybody will experience something bizzare and scary. I am happy to report that I had swimmingly happy episodes before and during my 30th birthday, plainly because I have been sheltered and surrounded by generous and loving people. Let's pray that henceforward, my days and yours will continue to be this happy.
Jazakallahu khairan kathiran.
Allah Hafidz